Non-traditional looking for input!

[stickgirl390]

Hello everyone. I'm just looking for some outside perspective on what my chances are applying this cycle. I'm a GA resident, cGPA 3.81 sGPA 3.88. (I should have a 4.0 sGPA, but my freshman year Astronomy B+ was included in the sGPA.) I only took the MCAT once so far, and scored 505.

I applied to 13 schools: all of the MD schools in GA and FL, as well as my alma mater in NY and Johns Hopkins as my "sure why not, you never know". (I did not apply DO because I have no connection to that area of medicine, ie. no shadowing, no history being treated by DO, no particular desire to learn extra musculo-skeletal etc.)

I'm a nontraditional student who graduated with a BA in documentary film in 2012. Since then I've worked full time as a web designer, veterinary technician, and high school chemistry teacher while completing a DIY post-bacc when I decided on medical school. I have a ton of leadership experience and have worked with undeserved areas/populations for about 3.5 years. I also have research and MD shadowing in my ECs.

So far I have received 1 II which I haven't heard back from yet, and 1 rejection (Johns Hopkins). I'm starting to plan what I can do to improve my application should I need to apply again next cycle.

Thanks for any advice!

Tl;dr: Should I retake the MCAT? When should I start preparing for a retake? What score should I aim for? Is there anything else I can do to improve my application?

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[Faha]

If you need to reapply a higher MCAT score would help. Retake the MCAT when you practice scores are consistently above 508. A 508 or higher would make you more competitive. It would also help to apply more broadly to private schools. The Florida schools you applied to are mainly state schools that prefer their own residents and accept few non residents with a MCAT of 505. Of course apply again to your Georgia schools. Other schools to consider include:
Quinnipiac
New York Medical College
Albany
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
GW
Georgetown
Oakland Beaumont
Western Michigan
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
St. Louis
Creighton
Tulane
any new private schools that open in 2018 (Seton Hall, Roseman, Henricopolis)

 

[stickgirl390]

Private because they do not affiliate with state residency?

 

[Faha]

Private because they do not affiliate with state residency?

Yes. It would be very difficult to receive an acceptance to most OOS public schools with your MCAT since they prefer their own residents.

 

[Vereinigt]

Hello everyone. I'm just looking for some outside perspective on what my chances are applying this cycle. I'm a GA resident, cGPA 3.81 sGPA 3.88. (I should have a 4.0 sGPA, but my freshman year Astronomy B+ was included in the sGPA.) I only took the MCAT once so far, and scored 505.

I applied to 13 schools: all of the MD schools in GA and FL, as well as my alma mater in NY and Johns Hopkins as my "sure why not, you never know". (I did not apply DO because I have no connection to that area of medicine, ie. no shadowing, no history being treated by DO, no particular desire to learn extra musculo-skeletal etc.)

I'm a nontraditional student who graduated with a BA in documentary film in 2012. Since then I've worked full time as a web designer, veterinary technician, and high school chemistry teacher while completing a DIY post-bacc when I decided on medical school. I have a ton of leadership experience and have worked with undeserved areas/populations for about 3.5 years. I also have research and MD shadowing in my ECs.

So far I have received 1 II which I haven't heard back from yet, and 1 rejection (Johns Hopkins). I'm starting to plan what I can do to improve my application should I need to apply again next cycle.

Thanks for any advice!

Tl;dr: Should I retake the MCAT? When should I start preparing for a retake? What score should I aim for? Is there anything else I can do to improve my application?

Hi there, like you I am a non-trad with a similar MCAT score. Also like you, I was a high school science teacher and did a DIY post-bacc because it had been long enough since graduating with my molecular and cell biology BA. I submitted 27 secondaries and was eventually accepted into a state school in my home state. This was my only interview invite and since it was top choice school, I could not be happier. I hit many of the schools on the list a previous poster mentioned and got crickets in response.

One thing to remember about being a non-trad: whatever you say in your essays or in response to an interview question carries more credence than the identical response from an undergrad applying to go straight into med school after they receive their BA. People like us have had life experience that many applicants have not. It's important to recognize that and own it because we really do know what we are talking about.

Also, while I have not talked to a member of the admissions committee specifically about my portfolio, I can only imagine the many, many volunteer hours in the clinic (>1000) helped as well. In addition to being a teacher, I am also an EMT on the side. In New Jersey, most EMT's are volunteer, so it's a relatively easy way to get into clinical medicine and get lots of experience. If you do have to reapply, consider doing something like that if it's possible in Georgia.

I wish you the best of luck! The world needs more physicians and especially those that have teaching experience and can level with and explain complicated concepts to their patients.

 

[stickgirl390]

Hi there, like you I am a non-trad with a similar MCAT score. Also like you, I was a high school science teacher and did a DIY post-bacc because it had been long enough since graduating with my molecular and cell biology BA. I submitted 27 secondaries and was eventually accepted into a state school in my home state. This was my only interview invite and since it was top choice school, I could not be happier. I hit many of the schools on the list a previous poster mentioned and got crickets in response.

One thing to remember about being a non-trad: whatever you say in your essays or in response to an interview question carries more credence than the identical response from an undergrad applying to go straight into med school after they receive their BA. People like us have had life experience that many applicants have not. It's important to recognize that and own it because we really do know what we are talking about.

Also, while I have not talked to a member of the admissions committee specifically about my portfolio, I can only imagine the many, many volunteer hours in the clinic (>1000) helped as well. In addition to being a teacher, I am also an EMT on the side. In New Jersey, most EMT's are volunteer, so it's a relatively easy way to get into clinical medicine and get lots of experience. If you do have to reapply, consider doing something like that if it's possible in Georgia.

I wish you the best of luck! The world needs more physicians and especially those that have teaching experience and can level with and explain complicated concepts to their patients.

Thank you so much for your response!! You've given me a great perspective. I'm still waiting to hear back from my interview. I'm glad to hear that only having one II is completely normal. Thanks for the extra dash of hope!

 

[Vereinigt]

Thank you so much for your response!! You've given me a great perspective. I'm still waiting to hear back from my interview. I'm glad to hear that only having one II is completely normal. Thanks for the extra dash of hope!

Of course! Let me know if you have any other questions. Edit on my last post: I got another II today. I'm still mulling over what to do since I already got into my top choice school. But for you, I would just say hang in there. I know it's hard, but you will find a way to make it work whatever happens. That's what a good teacher always does!